Massachusetts Jobs

This position offers some flexibility of office location within the hybrid work model currently being observed. This position is a 3-year grant engagement with funding set to expire on December 31, 2025. The selected candidate should be available to continue work through the length of the grant funding. EEC may, at its discretion, shorten or extend the contract to accommodate changes in scope, additional funding, or additional responsibilities. The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is the lead agency for all early education and care services and funding in the Commonwealth, charged with administering the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) monies provided to Massachusetts. This block grant provides childcare subsidies to more than 50,000 low-income families to help ensure they can work and stay employed, while ensuring that children are getting the high-quality early education needed to prepare them for success in school and in life.  EEC is focused on strengthening and promoting the diverse early education and care sector in Massachusetts. EEC licenses, monitors, and provides technical assistance to the nearly 9,000 early education and care programs and agencies that serve children and youth, including family childcare programs and center-based programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, out-of-school time programs, residential group care facilities, temporary shelters, and placement agencies for foster care or adoption services.   The position of Family Engagement Program Manager is responsible for engaging families to ensure the family voice is consistently and intentionally represented within EEC’s, policies, procedures, programs and communication. This manager will assist in strategizing and developing family engagement practices across the agency to include launching a statewide Family Advisory Council to create and expand opportunities for family leadership and voice, improve family access to child care financial assistance and other EEC programs and supports. This role will lead family engagement work across the agency and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. They partner with EEC-funded programs, provide technical assistance and education opportunities to create a stronger family engagement infrastructure that supports families and the communities in which they live. Key to this role is the ability to strategize, drive and support systematic approaches to building and sustaining family engagement that bolster diverse parent voices recognizing that “family” looks different for everyone. The position is funded as part of the federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Renewal and will support key activities in the grant related to family engagement. This includes the forming of a standing Family Advisory Council, supporting an assessment of the landscape of family engagement at EEC, and supporting a Needs Assessment that seeks to gather input on felt needs from families across the state. As part of the agency’s PDG work, the Family Engagement Program Manager will partner with the EEC workgroups and the PDG Interagency Leadership team to inform family engagement strategy and provide updates related to these activities. The Family Engagement Program Manager will be a key partner in the development, implementation and oversight of policies and procedures related to family engagement across EEC’s mixed delivery system. Key Responsibilities: /Program Oversight & Management/ • Plan and manage the scope and timeline for grant activities in partnership with state agency staff • Develop, launch and manage statewide Family Advocacy Council • Support hiring process for key grant-funded positions, as needed • Support procurement process for external contractors and vendors, as needed • Help to oversee and monitor progress of vendors supporting completion of specific deliverables, including needs assessment, strategic planning, and program performance evaluation • Design and implement methods for bringing the family voice and experience to development of policies and practices across the agency • Coordinate with key agency staff and external contractors to ensure that grant activities are executed on time and within budget including identifying and helping to resolve any barriers • Work within and across EEC units to ensure with external partners, to ensure Family engagement policies, practices and procedures are understood and being implemented with fidelity. /External Partnerships & Engagement/ • Support successful implementation of cross-agency collaboration by fostering open and constructive communication among team members • Coordinate and help to facilitate PDG Interagency Leadership Team meetings and internal EEC management meetings, including preparing agendas, presentations, and related materials • Ensure PDG Interagency Leadership Team and stakeholder feedback is reflected in project work • Prepare required federal progress reports and additional reporting • Participate in regular meetings with Federal Project Officer and technical assistance contractors • Work with fiscal staff to monitor grant spending • Provide updates and prepare communications about grant progress and outcomes to internal and external stakeholders • Develop and maintain relationships with DESE, DCF, DPH, DTA, DMH, EOHLC and other state and/or regional entities supporting children and families in order to promote alignment of family and community engagement practices and to share information/resources whenever possible • Act as resource for families, programs, schools and educators by providing consultation and/or referring constituents to the appropriate EEC staff resource /Promoting Family Engagement and Family Voice/ • Provide technical assistance, training and expertise on family engagement practices and the Family Engagement Framework (https://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/family-engagement-framework.pdf) for EEC staff, external partners and early education and care programs • Work to bring the family voice and family perspective into the development of regulation, policy, practice, and procedures across agency divisions • Work collaboration with the Communications Team to ensure agency developed materials, including the website, are family friendly, family focused, accessible and relevant to families receiving service and benefits from EEC • Identify opportunities for partnerships to ensure effective participation of families with critical perspectives, such as Tribal families, families with limited English proficiency, families experiencing homelessness, and families who have children with disabilities Other Duties as Assigned Preferred Qualifications: • Knowledge of early childhood education. • Knowledge of the family engagement practices • Knowledge of the needs of the early education and care service population • Knowledge of family engagement and family support principles, policies and practices • Knowledge of linkages to community-based services, educational advocacy and support groups • Knowledge of project management principles and practices • Ability to create and manage change including in redefining program processes to focus on family experiences and voice • Ability to set priorities and identify and implement strategies • Ability to facilitate and support team-building activities • Ability to review and analyze data and research on early education and care trends • Ability to communicate the Department’s mission and service policy positions • Ability to lead and oversee regional area planning, service provision, coordination, program monitoring and accountability processes • Ability to analyze Early Education and Care related legislation and policy • Ability to carry out major long-range and short-term strategic planning • Ability to achieve Department program implementation and goals through effective program planning and coordination • Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take appropriate actions • Ability to work independently and collaboratively • Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral presentations • Ability to mediate conflict, coordinate competing interests, work under time constraints • Ability to work with high-level state and local officials and other interested parties • Ability to properly assess the impact of outside forces • Skilled in problem-solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and team building • Ability to supervise staff and to be responsive to demands of competing constituencies Based on assignment, travel may be required for this position. Questions regarding this position, or the application process, should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience. II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience. III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience. IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience. *Comprehensive Benefits* When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Education* *Organization: Department of Early Education and Care *Title: *Family Engagement Program Manager Location: Massachusetts-Boston - 50 Milk St Requisition ID: 23000BKO